Tag Archive | "ACC Kickoff"

GREENSBORO, N.C. – After seniors C.J. Brown and Dexter McDougle met with the media on Sunday, University of Maryland head football coach Randy Edsall took his turn on Monday at the ACC Kickoff at the Grandover Resort and Conference Center.

The annual event, which kicked off Sunday, features the leagues head coaches and student-athletes from each school – one offensive and one defensive player. After arriving in Greensboro Saturday evening, Brown and McDougle conducted interviews with the media for much of Sunday. On Monday, Edsall followed suit as the start of the 2013 season nears with the same objectives as past seasons.

“Our players have done a great job of working extremely hard and preparing themselves the best way they can to get ready for Aug. 4 when they report to start practice on Aug. 5,” said Edsall. “Our goals are the same. We want to win the Atlantic [Division], we want to win the ACC; we want to go to a BCS bowl game. That’s what the focus is about when we get started on Aug. 5.”

Brown and McDougle echoed Edsall’s sentiments the previous day.

“On the offensive side of the ball we have a lot of talented skill guys coming back and a lot of talented young guys who played and played early last season,” said Brown. Those guys have really matured which is promising.”

“I feel like the team has a lot of promise this season,” said McDougle. We lost some key guys on defense, but we have some younger guys that are ready to step up. I’m really looking forward to the start of the season.”

Media members in attendance picked Clemson as the preseason favorite in the Atlantic Division and to win the conference championship, with Miami the favorite in the Coastal Division. For more information on the 2013 ACC Kickoff, visit theacc.com.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Clemson, seeking its 15th Atlantic Coast Conference football title and its second in three years, is the preseason choice to win the Atlantic Division and defeat Miami in the 9th Annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game, according to a poll of media members attending this week’s ACC Football Kickoff at the Grandover Resort.

Clemson, which leads all ACC teams with 14 conference championships, finished atop the media preseason poll for the second time since 1991. The Tigers have been picked to finish first six times overall since the ACC preseason poll began in 1976.

Clemson senior quarterback Tajh Boyd was the overwhelming choice to repeat as ACC Player of the Year. The senior from Hampton, Va., was named on 105 of 120 ballots after a 2012 season in which he broke his own ACC single-season marks for touchdown passes (36) and touchdown responsiblility (46). Boyd enters the 2013 season with 8,053 career passing yards and 73 touchdown passes.

Miami running back Duke Johnson, with four votes, placed second to Boyd in the 2013 ACC Preseason Player of the Year voting. Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas and Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins received three votes apiece.

Clemson received 102 first-place votes in the Atlantic Division balloting, and defending ACC champion Florida State placed second with 18. Miami was chosen as the likely Coastal Division winner by 65 voters, while Virginia Tech was named on 27 ballots and North Carolina on 22. Clemson was named on 95 ballots as the likely overall ACC Champion.

ACC Championship Votes

1.

Clemson

95

2.

Florida State

15

T3.

Georgia Tech

3

T3.

Miami

3

T3.

North Carolina

3

6.

Virginia Tech

1

Atlantic Division

1.

Clemson (102)

815

2.

Florida State (18)

731

3.

NC State

490

4.

Wake Forest

392

5.

Maryland

373

6.

Syracuse

320

7.

Boston College

211

Coastal Division

1.

Miami (65)

736

2.

Virginia Tech (27)

654

3.

North Carolina (22)

649

4.

Georgia Tech (6)

522

5.

Pitt

313

6.

Virginia

230

7.

Duke

228

ACC Player of the Year

1.

Tajh Boyd, Clemson

105

2.

Duke Johnson, Miami

4

T3.

Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

3

T3.

Sammy Watkins, Clemson

3

5.

Bryn Renner, North Carolina

2

T6.

Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech

1

T6.

Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State

1

T6.

Stephen Morris, Miami

1

ACC Championship Game Predictions

Clemson over Miami

55

Clemson over Virginia Tech

19

Clemson over North Carolina

18

Florida State over Miami

7

Florida State over Virginia Tech

7

Clemson over Georgia Tech

3

Georgia Tech over Clemson

3

Miami over Clemson

2

North Carolina over Florida State

2

Virginia Tech over Clemson

1

North Carolina over Clemson

1

Miami over Florida State

1

Miami over Florida State

1

Florida State over North Carolina

1

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